By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Former Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu, an independent presidential hopeful, is under fire from presidential contenders known as loyalists to President Roh Moo-hyun, due to his previous party affiliation.
Sohn, who in surveys has the most support among probable pro-government candidates, deserted the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) in March.
Political watchers said Roh loyalists are seemingly trying to unite their forces by organizing an anti-Sohn alliance to keep him in check.
Former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who belongs to the pro-government Uri Party, opened fire against the former governor, claiming he would be unable to lead the pro-government camp to victory in December's presidential election.
``Sohn is the `never-win' card for us. We cannot win the crucial presidential race with a straggler who ran away from the GNP,'' she said. ``He is not the appropriate candidate at a time when we are desperate to regain public support.''
Sohn served as a member of the GNP for 15 years, and was elected Gyeonggi governor in the 2002 local elections on the opposition party's ticket.
He declared his presidential bid while in the conservative GNP but quit it after suffering from low popularity, Roh loyalists said.
Another Uri contender Lee Hae-chan, who also served as prime minister, questioned Sohn's inclination, raising his previous party affiliation.
``He should have stayed in the GNP and joined its primary race,'' Lee said. ``I think his desertion disturbed the order and legitimacy of politics.''
Lee added that Sohn cannot change his political identity with just a couple of words.
Roh loyalists also criticized young politicians who have joined Sohn's presidential camp.
Rep. Kim Hyuk-kyu, also a Uri contender, said those lawmakers are jumping on Sohn's bandwagon with little understanding of the present situation.
According to polling agency TNS Korea last week, Sohn topped its survey among probable pro-government candidates with support of 22 percent, followed by former Uri Chairman Chung Dong-young with 10.9 percent.
Rep. Chough Soon-hyung of the Centrist United Democratic Party ranked third with 8.1 percent and Lee Hae-chan trailed him with 6.8 percent, it said.